Valves for controlling fluid flow

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a quick acting valve of the kind in which a stopper co-operating with a seating in the valve body bore is carried by spring-loading means on an operating spindle extending across the back of the stopper and across the bore of the valve body, the spindle carrying at least one cam co-acting with the back of the stopper for effecting quick opening and closing rotation of the latter bodily with the spindle and also initial lifting and final seating movement of the stopper. The valve mechanism includes the provision of at least one stop member secured on the back of the stopper and arranged to be contacted by the cam or a projection from the latter during initial rotation of the cam for effecting, positive lifting of the stopper from its seating in the valve body bore for rotation with the cam, i.e., in the event of high fluid pressure acting on the back of the stopper and overcoming the normal lifting action of the spring loading means.

United States Patent [191 Topham et al.

[ VALVES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW [76] Inventors: Alan Eric Topham, 19 Kingston Rd.;

Cedric Henry Topham, Woodlands View, Grindale Rd., both of Boynton, Bridlington, England [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 205,268

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Topham 251/163 Dec. 25, 1973 Primary Examiner-Harold W. Weakley Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson ABSTRACT The invention refers to a quick acting valve of the kind in which a stopper co-operating with a seating in the valve body bore is carried by spring-loading means on an operating spindle extending across the back of the stopper and across the bore of the valve body, the spindle carrying at least one cam co-acting with the back of the stopper for effecting quick opening and closing rotation of the latter bodily with the spindle and also initial lifting and final seating movement of the stopper. The valve mechanism includes the provision of at least one stop member secured on the back of the stopper and arranged to be contacted by the cam or a projection from the latter during initial rotation of the cam for effecting, positive lifting of the stopper from its seating in the valve body bore for rotation with the cam, i.e., in the event of high fluid pressure acting on the back of the stopper and overcoming the normal lifting action of the spring loading means.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] DEC 2 5 I975 SHEET 10F 2 PATENTED UEC25 I975 SHEET 2 BF VALVES FORCONTROLL'ING FLUID FLOW This invention has reference to valves for controlling fluid flow more particularly quick acting valves of the type wherein the valve member or stopper is carried by spring loading means on an operating spindle which extends transversely across the bore of the valve body and across the back of the stopper at right angles to the axis of the latter, the spring means urging the back of the stopper against the periphery of at least one cam mounted on the spindle whereby on initial rotation of the spindle the cam co-action with the back of the stopper is such that the spring means urges the stopper towards the spindle to initially lift said stopper from its seating in the valve body, whilst further rotation of the spindle carries the stopper round with it to effect quick opening of the valve and conversely quick closing thereof when the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction.

Under certain operating conditions of such valves "high fluid pressure against the back of the valve member or stopper can hold the latter against its seating in the valve body by overcoming the spring loading during initial rotation of the cam spindle. The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the valve mechanism whereby such disadvantage is avoided and positive opening of the valve member or stopper ensured.

In practical embodiments of the valve mechanism the constructions and arrangements are as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: 7

FIGS. 1 and 2 are axial plane sectional views of a valve of the type referred to showing one form of the mechanism in the open and fluid pressure closed conditions respectively.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are details views showing an alternative arrangement and FIG. 5 is a detail view similar to FIG. 3 and showing a further alternative arrangement. In the usual manner of a valve of the type referred to, the bore 8 in the body 10 of the valve receives the valve member or stopper 6 co-operating with a seating 18 in the bore 8, the stopper 6 being carried by spring loading means from the operating spindle 3 which is journalled in the valve body 10.

The spindle 3 is shown carrying a single cam 2 which is situated between a pair of cross pieces of the spring loading means carrying the stopper 6, one of which is shown at l in the form of a block having a pair of parallel bores 4 each receiving a headed screw 5 screwed into the back of the stopper 6. Each bore 4 is mainly couterbored at 4a to accommodate a compression spring 7 acting between the head 5a of the screw 5 and a'shoulder 4b at the other end of the counterbore 4a so that each cross piece 1 is spring urged to bear against the operating spindle 3 and which causes the back of the stopper 6 to be urged against the periphery of the cam 2 for operation of the valve in the manner already referred to.

Under usual operating conditions and on the spindle 3 being rotated in a direction to bring the flat 2a of the cam 2 against the back of stopper 6, initial dual lifting of the latter is able to take place under the action of the springs 7 acting between the screw heads 5a and the cross piece shoulders 4b. On further rotation of the spindle 3, the stopper 6 turns bodily with the spindle 3 owing to its location against the cam flat 2a and thus effects quick opening of the valve. Conversely rotation of the spindle 3 in the opposite direction effects quick closing of the valve and final axial seating of the stopper 6 as the cam 2 turns relative to it.

However when the back of the stopper 6 is subject to high fluid pressure and as shown in FIG. 2 the action of the spring loading provided by the spring 7 is overcome such that the stopper 6 is held by the fluid pressure against the seating 18 despite initial rotation of the cam 2 by the operating spindle 3.

In order to avoid such disadvantage and to ensure positive opening of the stopper 6, there is provided in accordance with this invention means in the form of a stop member 20 secured such as by one or more screws 22 to the back of the stopper 6 and provided with a projection 21 which co-operates with an abutment portion or step 2b on the periphery of the cam 20 opposite to the flat 2a. The arrangement is such that as initial rotation of the cam 2 is effected to bring the flat 2a against the back of the stopper 6, the cam step 2b contacts the projection 21 of the stop member 20 so that on further rotation of the operting spindle 3, the stopper 6 is positively lifted and positively turned with the cam 2 to the fully opened position.

The arrangement of the step 2b of the cam 2 in relation to the projection 21 of the stop member 20 is such that lifting of the stopper 6 by the action of the springs 7 can take place on initial rotation of the cam 2, i.e., where the fluid pressure acting on the back of the stopper 6 is less than the force extered by the springs 7. In this connection and to ensure that spring loaded lifting of the stopper 6 against the cam flat 2a is obtained, a small clearance is provided between the cam step 2b and projection 21 in the position shown in FIG. 1. In the event that the springs 7 are unable to effect lifting of the stopper 6, contact of the step 2b with the projection 21 is obtained during early initial rotation of the cam 2 for effecting the positive lifting of the stopper 6.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 an alternative arrangement is shown suitable for smaller sizes of valve in which abutment projections shown as pegs or studs 24 extending laterally one from each side of the cam 2 cooperate with projections 2la of corresponding stop members 20a secured such as by screws 22a to the back of the stopper 6. The positive stopper lifting action of this arrangement is the same as that already described with reference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 5 a development of that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown in which the operating spindle 3 carries a pair of cams 2,2 each provided with a laterally extending abutment peg or stud 24 co-operating with a corresponding projection 21b of a single stop member 20b secured such as by screws 22b to the back of the stopper 6 and disposed between the cams 2,2. The stopper 6 is spring urged towards the cams 2,2 by a pair of cross piece blocks 1,1 accommodating spring loading means as already described, each block 1 being situated adjacent a corresponding cam 2 at the outside of the latter n i n o t a m t? itt ll ztw It is to be understood that the present invention is applicable to valves of this type having other cam and spring loading arrangements whilst modifications may be made within the scope of the invention herein defined.

We claim:

1. A valve of the character described comprising a valve body having an annular seating disposed in a bore thereof; a disclike stopper in said bore and cooperating with said seating; an operating spindle rotatably carried by said valve body and extending across the bore thereof and across the back of the stopper; at least one cam rotationally fast with the operating spindle and arranged for coaction with the back of the stopper, the periphery of said cam having an eccentric rounded portion and a flat portion, which eccentric rounded portion coacts with the back of the stopper for permitting initial axial opening lifting movement of said stopper on initial rotation of the cam by corresponding rotation of the operating spindle and conversely effects final axial closing seating movement of the stopper, while the flat portion coacts with the back of the stopper for imparting opening and closing swinging movement of the stopper bodily with the cam to and from the fully open position of the stopper on corresponding rotation of the operating spindle said cam further having at least one abutment provided thereon; spring loading means carrying the stopper from the operating spindle and acting from the back of the stopper and on the operating spindle in order to urge the stopper against the cam; and at least one stop member fixedly mounted on the back of the stopper for contact by the abutment of the cam during initial rotation of the cam and in the event of the spring loading means being overcome by high fluid pressure acting on the back of the stopper, in order to effect by said contact positive initial axial opening lifting movement of the stopper from the seating in the valve body bore.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein a step portion of the periphery of the cam provides the abutment thereon for contact with the stop member.

3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein a lateral projection extending from the cam provides the abutment thereon for contact with the stop member. 

1. A valve of the character described comprising a valve body having an annular seating disposed in a bore thereof; a disclike stopper in said bore and cooperating with said seating; an operating spindle rotatably carried by said valve body and extending across the bore thereof and across the back of the stopper; at least one cam rotationally fast with the operating spindle and arranged for coaction with the back of the stopper, the periphery of said cam having an eccentric rounded portion and a flat portion, which eccentric rounded portion coacts with the back of the stopper for permitting initial axial opening lifting movement of said stopper on initial rotation of the cam by corresponding rotation of the operating spindle and conversely effects final axial closing seating movement of the stopper, while the flat portion coacts with the back of the stopper for imparting opening and closing swinging movement of the stopper bodily with the cam to and from the fully open position of the stopper on corresponding rotation of the operating spindle, said cam further having at least one abutment provided thereon; spring loading means carrying the stopper from the operating spindle and acting from the back of the stopper and on the operating spindle in order to urge the stopper against the cam; and at least one stop member fixedly mounted on the back of the stopper for contact by the abutment of the cam during initial rotation of the cam and in the event of the spring loading means being overcome by high fluid pressure acting on the back of the stopper, in order to effect by said contact positive initial axial opening lifting movement of the stopper from the seating in the valve body bore.
 2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein a step portion of the periphery of the cam provides the abutment thereon for contact with the stop member.
 3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein a lateral projection extending from the cam provides the abutment thereon for contact with the stop member. 